How to Hide Apps on Android Devices

Keep your apps to yourself.
Ash Ash (362)
3 minutes

If your phone is too cluttered or you just want more security, there are options you can use to help hide applications on your Android device. Most of these options are available in the native Android OS—however, it is possible to go a step further and use third-party apps.

We also have a guide on how to delete Android apps if you want to remove them entirely.

Posted in these interests:
h/android21 guides
Hide apps from home screen Android

You can remove any app from your home screen by tapping and holding it. Look for a menu option to remove the app. It will remain installed on your phone, but it won't appear on your home screen anymore. The app will still be visible and accessible from the app tray.

Hide preinstalled apps Android

Some Android devices come with preinstalled applications. If you can't remove it, you might be able to disable it.

  1. Open the App tray.
  2. Locate the app you want to hide.
  3. Tap and hold the app icon.
  4. Look for an option to Turn off or Disable the app. If the app wasn't preinstalled, you will only see an option to uninstall it.
Hide apps in a folder Android

If you want to reduce clutter on your phone and organize your apps, you can always hide them individually in custom folders.

On the home screen, tap and hold the icon for any app. A menu will appear; choose the option to create a new folder. After choosing a name, drag and drop apps into the folder.

From within the app tray, open the menu represented by an icon with three dots in the upper-right corner. Select the option to create a new folder. You can set a name and move apps in to and out of the folder by dragging and dropping.

If these options won't get the job done, you may want to try using a third-party app. There are programs available on the app store designed to help hide and protect apps on your Android phone. Here are a few popular ones to help you find the best option for you.

App Hider - This app lets you hide or clone apps, hide specific media, and use multiple accounts for the same application.

Calculator Vault - This app makes it possible to hide and password-protect applications under the guise of a calculator app.

Keep your favorite apps up to date.
Ash Ash (362)
2 minutes

Most Android apps can be set to update automatically. If you need to manually update an app, you have a couple of options.